Arizona weekly enterprise., 1887-10-29
MYSTERIES OF MICROSCOPY.
The Work of an Enthusiastic Investi-
 gator-yiew of a Fly's Tongue.

The Work of an Enthusiastic Investi-
 gator-yiew of a F1y's Tongue.
 MT. George M. Hopkins, of The Scien- life American, is very enthusiastic mi croscopist. He has been very faithful and persevering in his Investigations, and has written many articles calculated to popularize the science, and thus open the door which leads to great amount of pleasure ill the broad field of nature. Mir. Hopkins instrument and attachments are valued at $350. An illustrated article in The Scientific American supplement thoroughly demonstrates the fact that much excellent work can be done with what is known as a toy microscope. It says:
 ''Some have enormously supposed an expensive instrument and elaborate &C., cessories necessary to the pursuit of mi- croscopical investigations. These things are, of course, desirable; but when one has learned all that can be learned by the aid of the simple and inexpensive micro scope, he is very far advanced, and may with propriety present his instrument to some one unable to purchase for himself, and proceed to the selection of something better suited to his advanced position in microscopy"
 Irecently had the pleasure of spending an hour with Mir. Hopkins at his resi- dence, looking at a variety of objects through his splendid instruments. The pleasure of doing this was greatly height ened by having in the person of my host person who was thoroughly conversant with the subject and whose skilled hand could arrange the object and equalize the light in such way that the sections of bugs, beetles and birds could be shown at their best, while at the same time impart- ing invaluable information regarding each subject viewed. Sitting down at revolving table in the center of the room, MT. Hopkins said:
 Suppose we look at the fy's tongue?"
 ''All right" said I. .Flies have been investigating me for a long time, and nothing would give me more pleasure than to see fiy's tongue transfixed and to investigate it calmly under the micro scope"
 Accordingly Mir. Hopkins placed the subject in position, and, turning the table, brought my eye to bear upon the object. The fy's tongue is certainly a complicated piece of mechanism. No de- scription would do it justice; it must be seen to be appreciated. The next subject was a section of horsehy, showing the complete kit of tools with which he pur- sues his investigations into the flesh of horses. There was fine saw, with teeth plainly visible, a piercer for irritating the wound which causes the blood to flow, and all arranged for use. Then we looked at the sawfiy which frequents rose and gooseberry bushes, and saws places in the twigs and deposits its eggs. The stinging r:-f'ts--srtrrs of the ordinary honey bee next claimed our attention. Having had some experience with bees business depart ment, congratulated myself that the mystery of its operation was about to be unveiled. The sight confirmed me in my purpose previously formed of giving bee hives wide berth in future. A bees stinger looks formidable under a micro scope. Teeth project from the side of it like a swordfish, and attached to it is the poison bag, which contains the article which when inserted into mans hand | by an enterprising bee makes him wish that he had never been born.
 The hornet was next investigated. It has been said that he differs from the flea in this respect: that when you put your finger on him you know he is there; Much as we dislike to meet the hornet and be interviewed by him, especially when seated on the grass eating loaf cake at a picnic, he appears remarkably well under microscope. MT. Hopkins called my attention to this interesting fact. On the edge of the hornets wings are a series of hooks which at certain times are used to hook the wings together, but no one has yet succeeded in hooking or unlocking the wings of the captured in- sect. The hooks were plainly seen through the instrument. A bees foot and fringed paddle of the water beetle closed our investigations among the in- sect tribe. A section of the leaf of the deutia plant was next shown. It was covered with little stars perfectly formed. These stars are composed of silex, and if the leaf is burned the stars are not con- stunned. Diatoms are subject for special study. They are vegetable plants com prising innumerable varieties, which can only be seen and classified by the aid oi the microscope. Diatoms have been seen upon which 125, 900 transverse lines have been shown by the aid of the most pow. erful microscopes. Polarlzed light t another department of microscopicai study. The polarizer is attached to the microscope, and by it's means the most beautiful forms and colors are seen There are an infinite number of available subjects in this realm. Chemical crystals mineral sections. nickel prisms and ob jects from vegetable life all show vas variety of colors and forms -RrooklY1